How John Funk started their other graphic design journey

Company name

Flings

Overview

My name is John Funk and I run a new, exciting consumer products company that has a disruptive innovation in the world of boring, sleepy trash bins and bags. Ever had a situation where you needed an extra trash bin? So you tear off a trash bag and hang it on a doorknob or set it on the floor? Only to watch it fall over, fall off, spill out, and just look, well, like trash?

Imagine a new type of trash container - ships flat, and then pops up and stays up to hold all your trash. Could be a party (that's kind of obvious, right?) or it could be a lunch meeting at your office, or perhaps even just a simple, portable trash bin for your small office or home office (SOHO).

The Flings Pop-Up Trash Bin is a trash bag (technically called a trash can liner) with an integrated internal frame that holds the bag up and open. Silly clever, with a smack-on-the-head kind of "why didn't I think of that?" kind of patent-pending design. Fill the bin, and when you're done, either dump it out and re-use, or pull up the "skirt" and it's a regular drawstring back that you can just close up and toss out.

Best of all, we can print on the bags. No more black or white bags here... We've got current designs for parties and events, and a killer lineup of recycling bins.

Tell us a bit about who you are and the people you reach

We are looking for a new graphic design for a new Flings bin that is targeted to the small office / home office user. A less "event-specific" and more "office-specific" design that works in conference rooms, by a desk, near a copier, you name it.

Target buyer is likely female, looking for something tasteful.

You'd buy this at an office store (Staples, OfficeMax, OfficeDepot) or possibly at a club store (CostCo/Sams).

This wouldn't be the bin you're emptying every day or two; it's designed to be used for burst activity (team project, team meal, temporary staff, etc.) or for less frequent fill activity (home office).

Requirements

General layout is 21" x 21" from floor to top of bin (that's the front; the back is generally identical but doesn't have to be). Bottom Flings "brand band" is about 3" from the bottom, so you have about 18" (high) by 21" wide to work with.

Fewer colors are better, but we can do CMYK.

Design can be repeat, pattern, illustration, scatter, toss, photo, you name it.